Method for temperature monitoring and regulation and systems therefor

Abstract

A monitoring and control system is provided. The system includes a plurality of sensors for obtaining readings associated with food items, such as temperature readings, freshness indications, and the like. The system is scalable and configurable with each sensor being capable of functioning as an individual sensor and/or as part of a grouping of sensors. The system is configured to obtain a variety of information, such as ambient air temperature, dwell time of food items, moisture levels, and the like, thereby enabling the system to recognize current and future concerns. The system provides audio and visual warnings and visual displays. In some embodiments, the system performs one or more physical operation based on one or more detected condition. The system is further configured to distinguish between accurate readings and inaccurate readings and/or to otherwise determine if an obstacle is preventing a sensor from obtaining an accurate reading.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A food prep system for holding a plurality of food items, the system comprising:
 a plurality of bins, each bin being configured to hold a first food item; 
 a base for holding the plurality of bins; 
 a first sensor configured to sense a first value associated with a first bin; 
 a first indication means for indicating a first quality associated with the first value, 
 wherein said first sensor is integrated with said system such that said first sensor does not interfere with a user accessing the first food item while sensing the first value; 
 wherein said food prep system is further configured for identifying whether said first value is associated with said first food item or alternatively associated with a foreign object, wherein said food prep system associates said first value with said first food item upon making a positive identification, and said food prep system associates said first value with said foreign object upon not making said positive identification; 
 an alarm system configured to generate an alarm when said first value is associated with said first food item and said first value is outside of a threshold range; and 
 wherein said alarm system is further configured to be disabled when said first value is associated with said foreign object to prevent a false alarm. 
 
     
     
       2. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first quality is a freshness quality. 
     
     
       3. The system of  claim 2 , wherein the first sensor is a gas sensor and the first value is a value of off-gassing. 
     
     
       4. The system of  claim 3 , further comprising a second sensor for sensing a second value associated with the first bin, the second sensor being a temperature sensor and the second value being a temperature reading. 
     
     
       5. The system of  claim 4 , further comprising a carriage system for moving one or more of the first and second sensors, thereby facilitating sensing one or more value associated with a second bin. 
     
     
       6. The system of  claim 3 , further comprising a carriage system for moving the first sensor, thereby facilitating sensing one or more value associated with a second bin. 
     
     
       7. The system of  claim 3 , further comprising a communication system for transmitting information to a remote device, the remote device being in data communication with a plurality of food prep systems positioned at a plurality of locations, thereby facilitating monitoring of each of said plurality of food prep systems. 
     
     
       8. The system of  claim 7 , wherein the system is configured to facilitate sending commands from the remote device to one or more food prep system, thereby facilitating control of each of said plurality of food prep systems. 
     
     
       9. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the foreign object is associated with an object impeding measurement of the first value associated with said first food item. 
     
     
       10. The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a display system having a display device for displaying a bin layout representing a location of each bin of the plurality of bins. 
     
     
       11. The system of  claim 10 , further comprising a plurality of sensing devices, the plurality of sensing devices comprising the first sensing device, each sensing device of the plurality of sensing devices being associated with at least one bin of the plurality of bins, wherein the bins are positioned according to a bin layout, the bin layout including an indication of which sensing device is associated with each bin. 
     
     
       12. A method for monitoring food items, the method comprising:
 holding a plurality of food items, said plurality of food items each separated and held in a respective bin of a first group of bins; 
 holding each bin of the first group of bins in a first base; 
 utilizing a first sensor to sense a first value associated with a first bin of said first group of bins; 
 determining a first quality of a first food item of said plurality of food items based on said first value; 
 providing an indication of the first quality of the first food item; 
 identifying whether said first value is associated with said first food item or alternatively associated with a foreign object, wherein said first value is associated with said first food item upon making a positive identification, and said first value is associated with said foreign object upon not making said positive identification; 
 generating an alarm when said first value is associated with said first food item and the first value is outside of a threshold range; and 
 disabling said alarm when said first value is associated with said foreign object to prevent a false alarm. 
 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 12 , wherein the first quality is a freshness quality. 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 13 , wherein the first sensor is a gas sensor and the first value is a value of off-gassing. 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 12 , wherein when said first value is associated with the foreign object, the foreign object is associated with an object impeding measurement of the first value associated with said first food item. 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 12 , further comprising generating a bin layout and displaying the same on a display device.